Jessica Porvasnik wins DCM PGA Women’s Championship of Canada
THORNHILL, Ont. —Until today, Jessica Porvasnik hadn’t won a professional golf championship outside the state of Ohio. Now, however, the 23-year-old American can call herself national championship winner.
Porvasnik captured the DCM PGA Women’s Championship of Canada Thursday at the Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto, finishing the 36-hole event at 4-under-par, 140.
“I’ve won two professional events in Ohio, but this is my first win outside of the state,” Provasnik said. “There are some pretty impressive names on the trophy, so to win this championship is very special to me.”
The DCM PGA Women’s Championship of Canada was first played in 1987 and past champions include five-time winner Lorie Kane, Brooke Henderson, Alena Sharp, Cathy Sherk, Gail Graham, Nancy Harvey, and Jessica Shepley.
With the win, Provasnik takes home the first place prize of $10,000 and an exemption into this year’s CP Women’s Open at Wascana Country Club in Regina, Aug. 20-26.
Aram Choi of Surrey, B.C., and Mexico’s Sandra Angulo finished T2, one shot back at 3-under-par.
Hamilton Golf & Country Club’s Emma De Groot finished fourth at 2-under-par for the championship. With her impressive finish, she takes home the low PGA of Canada club professional division title, along with a spot on the PGA of Canada’s PGA Cup team.
The PGA of America recently formed the Women’s PGA Cup, a first-of-its-kind team competition for Women PGA members from around the world. The PGA of Canada is pleased to be taking part in this landmark event, which will be played October 21-26, 2019 in the United States.
The five members of the inaugural PGA of Canada team will be determined based on the performance of eligible finishers at the 2018 and 2019 DCM PGA Women’s Championship.
American Jenny Lee, Valerie Tanguay and Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto member Elizabeth Tong round out the top-five at 1-over-par.
Earlier in the week, title sponsor DCM announced the ‘Power Up’ initiative.
Founded by DCM, in partnership with the PGA of Canada, the Power Up initiative aims to support the athletic, personal and financial needs of Canadian female golfers. The initiative has the two main goals of supporting top Canadian female golfers on the brink of LPGA Tour status and create a landmark Canadian championship in women’s golf.
More information about the Power Up initiative will be announced in the coming weeks.
To follow the DCM PGA Women’s Championship of Canada online, visit pgaofcanada.com, twitter.com/pgaofcanada, instagram.com/thepgaofcanada and facebook.com/pgaofcanada
The next PGA of Canada national championship takes place at the Beverly Golf & Country Club, Aug. 7-10 for the PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada.
Click here for scores.
Celebrating 50 year milestones
Fifty years ago, in 1968, we celebrated the opening of a number of golf courses from coast-to-coast in Canada.
The list of clubs include:
- Acme Golf Club (Acme, AB)
- Fort Langley Golf Club (Fort Langley, BC)
- Kokanee Springs Resort Club (Crawford Bay, BC)
- Meadow Gardens Golf Club (Pitt Meadows, BC)
- West Pubnico Golf & Country Club (Pubnico, NS)
- Kanata Golf & Country Club (Kanata, ON)
- Chibougamau-Chapais Club de Golf (Chiboufamau, QC)
- Glen Cedars Golf Club (Claremont, ON)
Notable Golf Moments in 1968:
The World Amateur Team Championship was held in Australia, Bob Charles is the first left-handed golfer to win the Canadian Open and the only New Zealander, and Sandra Post wins LPGA Rookie-of-the-Year Award as well as the 1968 LPGA Championship in a playoff. Bob Goalby won his only major championship, one stroke ahead of Roberto De Vicenzo, the reigning British Open champion.
Jessica Porvasnik leads PGA Women’s Championship of Canada
THORNHILL, Ont. —Players took advantage of ideal scoring conditions Wednesday at the Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto for the first round of the DCM PGA Women’s Championship of Canada.
A total of seven players posted rounds under par on the venerable Stanley Thompson designed gem in Toronto’s north end.
Jessica Porvasnik of Ohio leads the way after an opening-round 4-under-par 68, which included five birdies on the inward nine. Kayla Lawrence, Aram Choi and Sandra Angulo are just one shot back at 3-under-par. Emma De Groot and Brooke Baker were both 70, while local favourite and Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto member Elizabeth Tong was 71 Wednesday.
“This golf course is in great shape with perfect greens,” Angulo said. “It’s a very risk and reward type of golf course, so you have to be very aware where to attack.”
“My experience this week has just been amazing,” she said. “The support from everyone here at the club, the PGA of Canada, the sponsors have just been first class.”
The Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto hosted the inaugural DCM PGA Women’s Championship in 1987, which was won by PGA of Canada Hall of Fame member Cathy Sherk. The club also hosted the event in 1999 (won by Lorie Kane) and for the third time in 2007 (won by Salimah Mussani).
Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto is North America’s only remaining private golf club established by women for women and was founded in 1924 by Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Ada Mackenzie. Designed by famed Canadian golf course architect Stanley Thompson, the course was officially opened for play in 1926.
The winner of this year’s championship will earn an exemption into the CP Canadian Women’s Open at the Wascana Country Club, Aug. 20-26.
De Groot of Hamilton Golf & Country Club leads the PGA Club Professional division by three shots over Rebecca Lee-Bentham.
Additionally, the PGA of America recently formed the Women’s PGA Cup, a first-of-its-kind team competition for Women PGA members from around the world.
The PGA of Canada is pleased to be taking part in this landmark event. The inaugural competition will be played October 21-26, 2019 in the United States.
The five members of the inaugural PGA of Canada team will be determined based on the performance of eligible finishers at the 2018 and 2019 DCM PGA Women’s Championship.
Those eligible to represent their country in the Women’s PGA Cup must be members in good standing with their respective Professional Golfers Association (PGA). They must also be active in the game, be it as a teacher, coach or working as club professional/assistant. Tour professionals who primarily compete for a living are not eligible to participate.
Admittance to the DCM PGA Women’s Championship of Canada is free and spectators are encouraged to attend the 36-hole championship play.
The DCM PGA Women’s Championship of Canada was first played in 1987 and past champions include five-time winner Lorie Kane, Brooke Henderson, Alena Sharp, Cathy Sherk, Gail Graham, Nancy Harvey, and Jessica Shepley.
Click here for full scoring.
RBC scores ‘a hole in one’ with 2019 PGA TOUR schedule change
RBC, Golf Canada and the PGA TOUR today announced that the 2019 RBC Canadian Open will be moving to a premier spot on the PGA TOUR schedule starting in 2019, one week before the U.S. Open. The 110th RBC Canadian Open, to be played at the historic Hamilton Golf and Country Club with new dates, June 3-9, 2019, is expected to attract an even better field for Canada’s National Championship.
The 2018 RBC Canadian Open will be played as scheduled, July 23-29, at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario.
“The RBC Canadian Open is one of the oldest and most-prestigious golf events in the world and we’re thrilled to start a new chapter in 2019,” said Mary DePaoli, executive vice-president and chief marketing officer, RBC. “As the only Canadian stop on the Tour, the June tournament date will help enrich the experience for fans, players and all Canadians.”
IT’S A DATE! The #RBCCO is moving to June 3-9 in 2019 ??#OurOpen pic.twitter.com/okc6Z3dopB
— RBC Canadian Open (@RBCCanadianOpen) July 3, 2018
In addition to the new spot on the PGA TOUR schedule, the 2019 RBC Canadian Open will also feature an increased purse, set at USD $7.6-million.
“The PGA TOUR, RBC and Golf Canada have collaborated to ensure this new date is the right fit for players and fans of the RBC Canadian Open,” said Andy Pazder, chief tournaments & competitions officer, PGA TOUR. “As title sponsor of both the RBC Canadian Open and the RBC Heritage, RBC has been a tremendous partner of the PGA TOUR, and we’re thrilled to have this opportunity to move one of golf’s most important and historic tournaments to a new date for the event starting in 2019.”
With even stronger fields and competition anticipated with the new date, the RBC Canadian Open is expected to:
- Increase global awareness for golf in Canada and the RBC Canadian Open tournament
- Drive deeper interest and participation in golf in Canada
- Positively impact the regional economy with increased ticket sales, hospitality and tourism
“Golf Canada is beyond thrilled by RBC’s overall support for the Canadian Open. Together with the PGA TOUR, the new 2019 date change is a clear demonstration of our combined commitment to the game and Canada’s National Open Championship,” said Laurence Applebaum, chief executive officer, Golf Canada. “This exciting change will inject tremendous energy into the RBC Canadian Open and make Canadian golf better.”
For ticket, volunteering, sponsorship and corporate hospitality information on the 2018 RBC Canadian Open, details are available online at www.rbccanadianopen.com.
700 golf courses participating in Take A Kid To The Course
Kids across the county are getting treated to some free golf this summer through an initiative from the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) Canada.
Starting July 3, 700 Canadian golf courses will offer free golf to junior golfers under the age of 16 during the Take A Kid To The Course program.
Not only does the program promote the game of golf at the grassroots level, but it promotes something much more valuable: family time.
“Golf provides kids with valuable life skills, such as perseverance, patience, and respect,” states Jeff Calderwood, CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association Canada. “They will enjoy quality time with family and friends and experience an activity that takes them away from the computer and into the great outdoors.”
Along with providing junior golfers with free green fees, many of the clubs participating in the event offer free range balls, junior lessons and many other specials.
The program is entering its 16th season, during which it has allowed over 350,000 golfers an opportunity to golf for free.
For more information on the event and a complete list of participating courses visit kidsplaygolf.ca
Henderson three strokes behind lead after 3rd round of the KPMG Championship
KILDEER, Ill. – Henderson – the KPMG winner at Sahalee in 2016 and runner-up to Danielle Kang at Olympia Fields last year – led most of the afternoon on Saturday at the Kemper Lakes in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. On a day when temperatures climbed well into the 90s, she was leading by two strokes at 10 under.
The back-to-back birdies by Ryu and two late bogeys by Henderson turned things in a hurry. Ryu also used a neat approach on 18 to set up a short birdie putt on the par-4 hole.
So Yeon Ryu broke away on the closing holes to take a three-stroke lead.
The 28-year-old South Korean star birdied the 14th and 15th holes to jump ahead of Canadian Brooke Henderson and finished with a birdie on 18. She shot a 5-under 67 on another scorching afternoon to get to 11-under 205 and move a step closer to her third major victory.
Henderson was second. She bogeyed Nos. 14 and 16 in a 70.
South Korea’s Sung Hyun Park was 7 under after a 71, and American Angel Yin had a 68 to get to 6 under.
Ryu won the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open and 2017 ANA Inspiration for her major victories. She won the Meijer LPGA Classic two weeks ago in Michigan for her sixth LPGA Tour victory.
Four strokes off the lead through the first two rounds, Angel Yin was making a push toward the top of the leaderboard. The 19-year-old from Arcadia, California, birdied the 10th, 11th and 12th holes to get to 7 under before a double-bogeying No. 16.
Her 3-wood off the tee hit a bunker on the left side of the fairway and an 8-iron went to the water on the right. She also missed a bogey putt. But a birdie on 18 gave her a strong finish despite the heat.
“How difficult was it?” Yin said. “I don’t need to say much. You can just look. I’m wearing a skirt. I don’t do that. So legs are out, it’s hot.”
Michelle Wie was 1 over after a 72.
Quebec’s Maude-Aimee Leblanc slid to 41st place at 2-over. Canada’s Brittany Marchand (76) and Alena Sharp (80) occupy the 66th and 73rd spots, respectively.
Trick-shot artist helps veterans play more golf
Almost four years ago Todd Keirstead did a golf instructional demonstration at a veteran’s hospital when he came to an important realization.
The trick shots he had been performing for a few years – building up a brand so well known that Golf Channel named one of his shots as the No. 1 trick shot in 2014 – actually were emulating the injured service men and women he was doing the demonstration for.
Instead of being just pure entertainment, Keirstead – who most recently was the golf competition supervisor at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto – realized he could be more inspirational and inspiring.
Now, that realization has come full circle.
Starting Saturday and running through the end of September Keirstead will be performing for United States Air Force members and their families in a new ‘Recharge for Resiliency’ initiative.
The program began in 2015 as a new tool to encourage service members and their families who are affected by deployments to participate in morale, welfare, and recreation programs and activities.
LPGA Tour golfers like Amy Read participated in instructional clinics in 2017 and Keirstead will be travelling across the United States and into Europe and Japan performing for hundreds of servicemen and women in the Recharge for Resiliency Golf Days.
“It’s my way of saying ‘thank you’ for everything they do – not only the individuals that are serving but also their family members and all the sacrifices they’ve made,” says Keirstead by phone as he prepares for the first event of the year in Dover, Delaware on June 30th.
Keirstead says he’ll be performing for an hour, and at one of the sites in Colorado Springs he’ll also be doing a 30-minute motivational talk.
It will be entertainment, he says, but for the past number of years Keirstead, who is able-bodied, has shown that people who may be in a wheelchair or may be blind can still play golf. The shots he hits (he’ll put on a prosthetic limb or a blindfold, for example) are entertaining for some, but inspiring for many others.
“The last 10 minutes of the show I’ll be explaining to them how the military has changed my life and how I’m taking the entertainment show and turning it into a motivation/inspiration show,” he says. “A lot of the shots I hit are emulating the wounded veterans situations.”
The trick shots, he admits, are not really tricks. By making sure he has all the correct fundamentals down, he’s able to hit any shot the way he does. But because it’s so unique, he’s sure the audience will leave with a smile on their face after a break from their every-day military lives.
Keirstead’s new role with the USAF is part of a grander program he has called Bring Back the Game, an initiative supported by adidas golf and TaylorMade in Canada. The Bring Back the Game clinics, Keirstead says, are helping people to overcome their barriers and show golf as a tool to help build confidence and self-esteem.
He says he’s “very fortunate” to be asked to give back to the U.S. military using this platform, and he’s hopeful it will expand the message that golf is a sport for all people regardless of age, physical or mental ability.
“These shots that I’m doing for pure entertainment are actually motivating and inspiring for these troops,” he says. “It’s showing they can play golf in an adaptive way.”
Judith Kyrinis wins third consecutive Ontario Senior Women’s Amateur Championship
Thornhill’s Judith Kyrinis had a fantastic week at Markland Wood Golf Club going 70-70-68 to win the Investors Group Ontario Senior Women’s Amateur Championship once again.
In Thursday’s final round, Judith went out in 35 on the front nine and tore through the back nine with a 33 to shoot her low score of the week at 3 under on the par-71 layout.
Judith finished the three-day championship at 5 under par – the only competitor in the field to finish in red numbers – as Mary Ann Hayward of St. Thomas G&CC settled for second at 5 over par and Terrill Samuel rounded out the top three at 8 over.
“I’m pretty proud to have won this championship three times in a row against a strong field that includes Mary Ann Hayward, a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Terrill Samuel, a member of the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame – two of the best in Canada!” Judith says. “The Canadian Senior Women’s Amateur Championship is at Lookout Point in Fonthill the last week of August. I get to stay at home with my mom, so that will be neat and I’m excited about our chances as Team Ontario with Mary Ann, Terrill and myself.”
Judith won the 2017 Investors Group Ontario Senior Women’s Amateur Championship at Wildfire Golf Club and the 2016 championship at The Briars.
Despite having a significant lead throughout the championship, Judith stayed focused right to the end. “Any lead can be overcome as history has shown. I had a game plan that Matt Hoffman and I came up with in our practice round and I stuck to it,” says Judith, who carded only one three-putt all week. “I continued to play the course. I have full respect for Mary Ann and Terrill and know they can go low. I just kept the pedal down. Each shot is important. You can’t let up. I feel I’m a great putter on tricky greens.”
Up next is the US Senior Women’s Open Championship at Chicago Golf Club from July 12 to 15 where her goal is to make the cut and see where it goes from there.
“Playing in the Celebration of Champions at the men’s US Open at Shinnecock Hills earlier this year was a great test of having Fox TV cameras all around you and being on a big stage, so I will draw on that experience to go play with the pros I grew up idolizing,” Judith says.
Then she is off to the Senior Women’s International Matches, North America vs. Europe, in Venice, Italy at the end of July, followed by the North and South at Pinehurst Resort before heading to the Canadian championships. In September, Judith will tee it up in the US Women’s Mid Amateur Championship in St. Louis and then defend her US Women’s Senior Amateur Championship at Orchid Island in Vero Beach, Florida.
“I’m very good now at staying patient and letting the course come to me. The key is to stick to the game plan that we come up with in the practice round,” says Judith, who continues to workout with Thornhill’s fitness/golf guru Jeff Hammond.
Experience pays at PGA Championship of Canada
ACTON, Ont. — After an arduous 36-hole day of magnificent sun and sweltering heat at Credit Valley Golf & Country Club, four players remain at the PGA Championship of Canada presented by TaylorMade & adidas Golf.
Past PGA Championship of Canada winners Dave Levesque and Bryn Parry; last year’s Mike Weir Player of the Year Award winner P.A. Bedard; and Ontario’s Gordon Burns all punched their ticket to the final day of the PGA Championship.
Parry, the No. 1-seeded player will play Bedard in the first semi-final at 7:30 a.m., while the second semi features Levesque and Burns at 7:45 a.m.
The two winners will play in the championship’s final match Thursday afternoon, with the winner taking home the historic P.D. Ross Trophy.
In the match of the day, Parry defeated Wes Heffernan in 21-holes, after falling behind three-down on the front nine.
“He won some holes on the front nine and I thought to myself that I can do the same on the back nine, so I stayed patient, plugged away and waited to see what could happen,” Parry said. “It’s in my nature to be patient, it’s in my nature to tenacious and those two things really paid off a the end of the day.”
What happened was another trip to the final day of the PGA Championship of Canada. Parry’s impressive record in the PGA Championship of Canada since 2013 includes a win, a runner-up, a fourth and a fifth-place finish.
His opponent Bedard, on the other hand, will play in his first ever PGA Championship semi-final. However, he promises to be ready to go come Friday morning.
“I’m going to relax tonight, drink a bunch of water, eat some food and tomorrow I’m going to be ready,” he said. “My game is very close to being where I want it to be, so I’m excited to be playing Friday.”
The second semi features Burns and Levesque, who is having a bounce-back campaign this year after spending much of 2017 injured.
“I was hurt for most of last year and over my career I’ve seen a lot of lows and highs in this game, so it’s fun to come in a little under the radar and perform well,” Levesque says. “I’ve got lots of experience winning this championship before, so I’ll know what it feels like when the pressure hits and how I react to keep things positive, moving forward and making the right decisions.”
Attendance to the PGA Championship of Canada presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf is free and spectators are encouraged to attend during championship play.
Re-launched in 2011, the PGA Championship of Canada was contested strictly as a match play event through 2014 with players from the four brackets—Stan Leonard, George Knudson, Al Balding and Moe Norman—looking to advance through the six rounds to capture the historic P.D. Ross trophy. However, the 2015 championship at Cabot Links saw a format change, with 69 top-ranked players from the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC playing two rounds of stroke play. The top-16 players from the 36-hole stroke play portion of the event filled out the four match-play brackets with the eventual champion winning four match play rounds.
This year’s championship at Credit Valley follows the same format.
Credit Valley last hosted the PGA Championship of Canada 25-years ago in 1993, which was won by 12-time PGA TOUR winner Steve Stricker. The club has also recently hosted two PGA Women’s Championships (2010 and 2016) and a PGA Seniors’ Championship in 2015.
Credit Valley was also home to PGA of Canada Hall of Fame member Al Balding, a four-time winner of the PGA Championship of Canada, as well as recently deceased PGA of Canada member Jerry Anderson, who won the championship in 1987.
Brooke Henderson one stroke behind lead after first round of KPMG
KILDEER, Ill. – Canada’s Brooke Henderson, the 2016 KPMG winner, was a stroke back with Jessica Korda, Jaye Marie Green and Brittany Altomore on Thursday after the first round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
It wasn’t looking like a good day for Brooke when she started off on the tenth tee and carded two bogeys, but the 2017 runner up recorded a birdie on the ninth hole and made the turn finishing with six more birdies.
Maude-Aimee Leblanc (68) and Alena Sharp (69) both join Brooke in the top ten.
Brittany Marchand (71) recorded a hole-in-one on the 175-yard No. 17 hole at Kemper Lakes Golf Club. She used a 5-iron. With the ace, Marchand will take home a 2019 Kia Sorento.
Fellow Canadian, Anne-Catherine Tanguay, carded a 4-over 76.
.@BrookeHenderson cards a 5-under 67 to sit 1 back at the @KPMGWomensPGA ???? pic.twitter.com/JNTwuCyeYp
— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) June 29, 2018
South Korea’s Sung Hyun Park shot a bogey-free 6-under 66 to take the first-round lead.
The 2017 U.S. Women’s Open Champion birdied three of the four par-5 holes at Kemper Lakes in the third of the LPGA Tour’s five majors.
The 24-year-old Park won the weather-shortened LPGA Texas Classic in May, but followed that with three missed cuts and a tie for 61st last week in Arkansas. After a switch in putters, she believes she is rounding back into form.
The long-hitting Park birdied the par-5 15th to reach 5 under and parred the tough final three holes, finishing with a short putt on 18.
“I felt like something little was missing, especially my putting,” Park said through an interpreter. “But this week, I (feel) comfortable.”
The course favours long hitters, and that’s just fine with Korda.
She has five tour victories and her sights set on becoming the second member of her family to capture a major championship. Her father, Petr Korda, won tennis’ Australian Open in 1998.
After tying for fourth at the ANA Inspiration this year, Korda missed the cut at the U.S. Women’s Open. But she’s off to a good start in this one.
“Oh, It was great,” said Korda, the winner in Thailand in February in her return from reconstructive jaw surgery. “Finally, a golf course that benefits the long-hitters. The last couple weeks it’s definitely been a lot of 3-woods or even 4-irons off the tees, so this is really, really nice.”
Korda birdied three of the first six holes and ended her round on a rather strong note. She birdied Nos. 14 and 15 before making pars on the final three holes.
Green closed with a birdie on No. 9.
Michelle Wie shot 71, U.S. Women’s Open champion Ariya Jutanugarn had an even-par 72, and top-ranked Inbee Park and defending champion Danielle Kang followed at 73.
Lexi Thompson also shot 72, acing the 166-yard sixth hole with an 8-iron. Brittany Marchand also had a hole-in-one with a 5-iron on the 175-yard No. 17. She shot 71.
The winner last year at Olympia Fields, Kang fought through a stomachache after she couldn’t resist the chocolate chip waffles at breakfast. She knew that was a bad idea no matter how good they looked, and it didn’t take long for her to start paying for it.
Kang was already starting to feel sick before she teed off. It bothered her throughout the round, and she even threw up after the ninth hole.
“Just that constant contraction, your stomach contracting,” said Kang, who was planning to have oatmeal and cereal for breakfast Friday. “When I’m putting and if I contract too much, I smashed one on 10. I go, ‘Oops.”’
She felt it in a double bogey on the par-4 16th. The 419-yarder is a nightmare, with water running the entire right side of the fairway before forming a pond in front of the green. There are also two fairway bunkers on the left as well as a deep one by the green. Kang’s stomach was acting up as she sent her third shot sailing over the green, just missing the water.
“I was feeling it over it, and then I just tried to hit through it and hit it way too hard,” she said.–